John Pakenham Pipon

Early Life & Career

Pipon was born at Malta. As a acting Sub-Lieutenant, he served in the second-rate ship-of-the-line Zealous. Upon making Sub-Lieutenant on 12 September 1868, he served briefly in the receiving ship Duke of Wellington before commencing a a nearly two yer stint in Hercules, ending 29 April, 1872. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 3 September, 1872.[1]

Pipon served in the wooden screw corvette Modeste from early 1874 until she paid off on 8 May, 1877. On 23 February, 1876, Pipon was gazetted with praise for his services in charge of gun and rocket boats in operations against the Malays at the Straits of Malacca.

Pipon was promoted to the rank of Commander with seniority of 11 September, 1880.[2]

Pipon was promoted to the rank of Captain with seniority of 1 January, 1887.[3]

On 15 April, 1890, Pipon was appointed a captain of the second class protected cruiser Magicienne.[4]

In early 1894, Pipon was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Sirius, which was operating on the Southeast Coast of America and given the option of remaining in command of the station or of being relieved at the end of his commission. He took command of the ship on 8 February. In 1895, the Foreign Office and the Admiralty expressed their appreciation of Pipon's protection of British interests during a naval rebellion in Brazil. He remained with Sirius until she paid off on 26 July, 1895.[5]

In the Queen's Diamond Jubilee honours, Pipon was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 22 June, 1897.[7]

Pipon was appointed in command of the battleship Cæsar in the Mediterranean on 13 January, 1898.[8]

On 2 March, Pipon was granted 30 days leave to England. On 1 April, he asked to be permitted to resign his appointment in Cæsar. Accordingly, he was superseded in command on 14 April. He died less than a month later, on 6 May, his death reported by Commander Herbert Whitmore Savory.[10]